Biden: US Will Respond to Aggression Against NATO Allies

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, (R) Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite, (C) and Latvia's President Andris Berzins, (L), pose for photographers prior to their meeting at the Presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, March 19, 2014

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Poland Tuesday for talks aimed at reassuring eastern European allies that they have the support of the United States. It comes as Moscow signed a treaty Tuesday to formally make the Ukrainian region of Crimea part of the Russian Federation. Tensions and a growing military build-up are unnerving the region, as Henry Ridgwell reports from London.

WATCH: US Reassures Allies as Tensions Mount Along Russian Borders

The countries have condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for moving to annex Ukraine's Crimea, and the White House announced a new round of sanctions will be put into place against Russia.

On Tuesday, Biden said the U.S. might conduct war games in the region and Washington has already added more fighter jets to patrol the airspace over the Baltics.

"The situation is alarming," Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said to Biden at the start of their meeting. Latvian President Andris Berzins also attended.

The Baltic states are also concerned about the economic impact of tensions with Russia. They worry Putin could retaliate through trade bans or by withholding natural gas.

Last week, Russia suspended food imports through Lithuania's major port in a move some viewed as an effort by Putin to exert political pressure.

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by: Godwin from: Nigeria

March 19, 2014 11:56 AM

Which NATO ally is Mr. Biden talking about when the interim prime minister of Ukraine, speaking in Russian yesterday, assured his audience in Ukraine, Russia and elsewhere, that Ukraine is not trying to join NATO? Talking about isolation, no one can deceive Russia that it has not been living and operating in isolation, as long as the USA and Europe are concerned. The only cooperation the west has with Russia has been in areas of energy - so Europe can buy cheap gas - and in areas of cooperation with Russian or Chinese bloc allies when there is need for negotiation that the west find difficult to handle alone - like the North Korea and Iran nuclear negotiations. Outside of these, there is no cooperation with Russia except those areas the West wants an inroad into some secrets at the Kremlin.

Traveling to assure allies in the region of protection and planning of war games do not remove from the fact that American citizens at home are war-weary to even send military mission to Syria - all because Russia is to be avoided. Is it now that Biden wants to confront Russia? I doubt it. Fortunately or otherwise, no one has heard from the home front in New York and Washington what impact the war hype - a possible nuclear war - is making on the streets of California. That's an irony, anyway, but I assure you the US is as scared of war as it was to cross the red line, until Lavrov helped out. Once again, it will take just one more call from the diplomatic maestro for Washington to change the game plan and start singing another song how to reconcile the whole trouble. This is my assurance to the world of NATO allies in the region that there is going to be no war - at least not while Mr. Obama is presiding at the White House.

by: Micheal Wade from: San Juan,PR

March 19, 2014 10:45 AM

They r plenty of ships on their way to all of Europe with Natural Gas and ships loaded with goods for all the Countries Putin is trying to put pressure on! So, this time hes not suprising anyone by hiding behind the Events that just happen in his country, the games and the War in Syria! What he has done is wrong and now he will pay the price! I just feel bad for the Russian ppl cau they r the ones that will suffer! Look for Putin to try and take tankers and ships carrying goods for other countries, to use to feed his ppl! Cau if ppl only knew how much Russia depends on the US for food and other products they wld be shocked!

I will say again, the only reason he trying to take Crimea is because of the 1.6 billion dollars Russia has to pay Ukraine every year to use their port! Well, if the annex stands, now Russia will owe nothing to Ukraine because the port will b part of Russia now! Ppl wld be shocked that Putin also costed his 100 million by putting on the Worse W Games in the history of the Olympics! I dont know one person that watch any events at all! But take notice of this!! How much attention has been pay to Syria and how much money Russia lost on the Olympics? NONE! All the media attention has been on Crimea!

Whats going with the destruction of the Poison Gas and Who's paying the bills that Russia still owes on the Games? Huh? Ooh We (the Russian) will created events to take all the attention from these huge huge problems Putin created and have the World focus on something else! Ppl in Crimea were already eating bacon fat from Russia well, it will get a whole lot worst for em now and the WHOLE country of Russia just because of one Man! Hes a very smart man but at the same time, hes a very sick and insane man that has lost his way and its too late for him to go back now! The US and all their Allies sld stay on the highest of alerts cau we just dont know WHAT this sick man has planned next!

by: Rider from: USA

March 19, 2014 10:24 AM

Let me guess...with shotguns.

by: jim popma from: grandrapids, mi

March 19, 2014 10:19 AM

i think its absurd that we always seem to hey into other countries problems when we can't even handle our own

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